The Flying Scotsman

It may seem ironic that a Scotsman should travel to England to see The Flying Scotsman but I did, and had a very enjoyable visit to the North York Moors Railway.

The record breaking steam loco has just completed a ten year overhaul at a cost of £4.2 million and the public came out in their masses, both to travel on the train and also to see her along the entire length of the heritage line from Grosmont to Pickering.

The Flying Scotsman is due to come to Scotland in May and I'm sure the crowds will come out to see her when she comes north of the border.

Steam trains

With going down to North York Moors Railway next week to see the Flying Scotsman, I've been getting in the mood by looking over my past steam photos.

This has also given me an idea of what has worked previously and what wasn't so good.

Here are some of my favourites.

Caledonian Railways No 828 approaching Broomhill Station on The Strathspey Railway

Black fives 45407 and 44871 on the West Highland Line north of Tyndrum

Steam loco 60009 Union of South Africa crossing the Forth Bridge

46233 Duchess of Sutherland at Culross coastal path

NCB No 7 in her more common War Department colours as WD75254.
She is hauling a pair of  Calledonian Railway carriages from 1921

62712 Morayshire prepares for an evening trip at Bo'ness railway station

NCB No 19 passing the signal box at Bo'ness Station

K1 class steam loco 62005 at Dumbarton Central Station

60163 Tornado at Blackford

60163 Tornado crossing Jamestown Viaduct

60009 Union of South Africa on the Borders railway line

Furness Trust No 20 steam loco at Bo'ness Steam Gala day

Double header on the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway line

A Trip Down the Coast

February has given us a mixed bag when it comes to weather and so a dry sunny afternoon drew me down the coast to enjoy the setting sun.

During the summer months the esplanade at Largs is a busy place, however even though the sun was out, there was a chill wind which kept most people away.

Next stop was Wemyss Bay where the coast is rockier. From here we watched the sun setting behind the Island of Bute.

Portencross

And now for today's weather: it was dry and sunny, which has been unusual for 2016.

While I wasn't awake in time for the sun rising, I managed to take a run to Portencross for the sun setting.

Monte Carlo Historique Rally 2016

The Monte Carlo is starting to feel like an annual event in Paisley, with this being the third year running that I have come along to see the race get under way.

It feels strange to see car models that I remember driving being considered as classic cars, but it is also very pleasing that their owners have seen fit to preserve them for events such as this.

Paisley Abbey makes a beautiful backdrop and the public came out in great numbers to cheer the participants on their way.

Glasgow at Night

Once in a while I take a trip to the big city to see the bright lights.

Last week we went up hoping to see some of the Christmas lights around George Square before they came down.

We stopped around the Squinty Bridge and took some pictures of the bridges in that part of the city and of the  buildings alongside.

We then went to George Square but were disappointed that the attractions were away and high fences put up around the square. I did however get some pictures which I will add on a separate blog.

We then moved down to the Gallery of Modern Art which always looks good at night, helped by the ground being damp from the light showers causing added reflections.

Glasgow's Squinty Bridge

Bells Bridge leading to the Armadillo and Hydro

BBC television studio with Bells Bridge in front

The view up-river from Bells Bridge

Duke of Wellington protecting the GOMA

Gallery of Modern Art

Gallery of Modern Art

Key Scottish dates

Under a canopy of lights